the wheels of chance-第26章

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〃I　can　hardly　call　it　an　accident。　The　wheels　suddenly　refused　to　go　round。　I　found　myself　about　five　miles　from　here　with　an　absolutely　immobile　machine。〃

〃Ow！〃　said　Mr。　Hoopdriver；　trying　to　seem　intelligent；　and　Jessie　glanced　at　this　insane　person。

〃It　appears；〃　said　the　clergyman；　satisfied　with　the　effect　he　had　created；　〃that　my　man　carefully　washed　out　the　bearings　with　paraffin；　and　let　the　machine　dry　without　oiling　it　again。　The　consequence　was　that　they　became　heated　to　a　considerable　temperature　and　jammed。　Even　at　the　outset　the　machine　ran　stiffly　as　well　as　noisily；　and　I；　being　inclined　to　ascribe　this　stiffness　to　my　own　lassitude；　merely　redoubled　my　exertions。〃

〃'Ot　work　all　round；〃　said　Mr。　Hoopdriver。

〃You　could　scarcely　put　it　more　appropriately。　It　is　my　rule　of　life　to　do　whatever　I　find　to　do　with　all　my　might。　I　believe；　indeed；　that　the　bearings　became　red　hot。　Finally　one　of　the　wheels　jammed　together。　A　side　wheel　it　was；　so　that　its　stoppage　necessitated　an　inversion　of　the　entire　apparatus；an　inversion　in　which　I　participated。〃

〃Meaning；　that　you　went　over？〃　said　Mr。　Hoopdriver；　suddenly　much　amused。

〃Precisely。　And　not　brooking　my　defeat；　I　suffered　repeatedly。　You　may　understand；　perhaps；　a　natural　impatience。　I　expostulatedplayfully；　of　course。　Happily　the　road　was　not　overlooked。　Finally；　the　entire　apparatus　became　rigid；　and　I　abandoned　the　unequal　contest。　For　all　practical　purposes　the　tricycle　was　no　better　than　a　heavy　chair　without　castors。　It　was　a　case　of　hauling　or　carrying。〃

The　clergyman's　nutriment　appeared　in　the　doorway。

〃Five　miles；〃　said　the　clergyman。　He　began　at　once　to　eat　bread　and　butter　vigorously。　〃Happily；〃　he　said；　〃I　am　an　eupeptic；　energetic　sort　of　person　on　principle。　I　would　all　men　were　likewise。〃

〃It's　the　best　way；〃　agreed　Mr。　Hoopdriver；　and　the　conversation　gave　precedence　to　bread　and　butter。

〃Gelatine；〃　said　the　clergyman；　presently；　stirring　his　tea　thoughtfully；　〃precipitates　the　tannin　in　one's　tea　and　renders　it　easy　of　digestion。〃

〃That's　a　useful　sort　of　thing　to　know；〃　said　Mr。　Hoopdriver。

〃You　are　altogether　welcome；〃　said　the　clergyman；　biting　generously　at　two　pieces　of　bread　and　butter　folded　together。

In　the　afternoon　our　two　wanderers　rode　on　at　an　easy　pace　towards　Stoney　Cross。　Conversation　languished；　the　topic　of　South　Africa　being　in　abeyance。　Mr。　Hoopdriver　was　silenced　by　disagreeable　thoughts。　He　had　changed　the　last　sovereign　at　Ringwood。　The　fact　had　come　upon　him　suddenly。　Now　too　late　he　was　reflecting　upon　his　resources。　There　was　twenty　pounds　or　more　in　the　post　office　savings　bank　in　Putney；　but　his　book　was　locked　up　in　his　box　at　the　Antrobus　establishment。　Else　this　infatuated　man　would　certainly　have　surreptitiously　withdrawn　the　entire　sum　in　order　to　prolong　these　journeyings　even　for　a　few　days。　As　it　was；　the　shadow　of　the　end　fell　across　his　happiness。　Strangely　enough；　in　spite　of　his　anxiety　and　the　morning's　collapse；　he　was　still　in　a　curious　emotional　state　that　was　certainly　not　misery。　He　was　forgetting　his　imaginings　and　posings；　forgetting　himself　altogether　in　his　growing　appreciation　of　his　companion。　The　most　tangible　trouble　in　his　mind　was　the　necessity　of　breaking　the　matter　to　her。

A　long　stretch　up　hill　tired　them　long　before　Stoney　Cross　was　reached；　and　they　dismounted　and　sat　under　the　shade　of　a　little　oak　tree。　Near　the　crest　the　road　looped　on　itself；　so　that；　looking　back；　it　sloped　below　them　up　to　the　right　and　then　came　towards　them。　About　them　grew　a　rich　heather　with　stunted　oaks　on　the　edge　of　a　deep　ditch　along　the　roadside；　and　this　road　was　sandy；　below　the　steepness　of　the　hill；　however；　it　was　grey　and　barred　with　shadows；　for　there　the　trees　clustered　thick　and　tall。　Mr。　Hoopdriver　fumbled　clumsily　with　his　cigarettes。

〃There's　a　thing　I　got　to　tell　you；〃　he　said；　trying　to　be　perfectly　calm。

〃Yes？〃　she　said。

〃I'd　like　to　jest　discuss　your　plans　a　bit；　y'know。〃

〃I'm　very　unsettled；〃　said　Jessie。　〃You　are　thinking　of　writing　Books？〃

〃Or　doing　journalism；　or　teaching；　or　something　like　that。〃

〃And　keeping　yourself　independent　of　your　stepmother？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃How　long'd　it　take　now；　to　get　anything　of　that　sort　to　do？〃

〃I　don't　know　at　all。　I　believe　there　are　a　great　many　women　journalists　and　sanitary　inspectors；　and　black…and…white　artists。　But　I　suppose　it　takes　time。　Women；　you　know；　edit　most　papers　nowadays；　George　Egerton　says。　I　ought；　I　suppose；　to　communicate　with　a　literary　agent。〃

〃Of　course；〃　said　Hoopdriver；　〃it's　very　suitable　work。　Not　being　heavy　like　the　drapery。〃

〃There's　heavy　brain　labour；　you　must　remember。〃

〃That　wouldn't　hurt　YOU；〃　said　Mr。　Hoopdriver；　turning　a　compliment。

〃It's　like　this；〃　he　said；　ending　a　pause。　〃It's　a　juiced　nuisance　alluding　to　these　matters；　butwe　got　very　little　more　money。〃

He　perceived　that　Jessie　started；　though　he　did　not　look　at　her。　〃I　was　counting；　of　course；　on　your　friend's　writing　and　your　being　able　to　take　some　action　to…day。〃　'Take　some　action'　was　a　phrase　he　had　learnt　at　his　last　'swop。'　

〃Money；〃　said　Jessie。　〃I　didn't　think　of　money。〃

〃Hullo！　Here's　a　tandem　bicycle；〃　said　Mr。　Hoopdriver；　abruptly；　and　pointing　with　his　cigarette。

She　looked；　and　saw　two　little　figures　emerging　from　among　the　trees　at　the　foot　of　the　slope。　The　riders　were　bowed　sternly　over　their　work　and　made　a　gallant　but　unsuccessful　attempt　to　take　the　rise。　The　machine　was　evidently　too　highly　geared　for　hill　climbing；　and　presently　the　rearmost　rider　rose　on　his　saddle　and　hopped　off；　leaving　his　companion　to　any　fate　he　found　proper。　The　foremost　rider　was　a　man　unused　to　such　machines　and　apparently　undecided　how　to　dismount。　He　wabbled　a　few　yards　up　the　hill　with　a　long　tail　of　machine　wabbling　behind　him。　Finally；　he　made　an　attempt　to　jump　off　as　one　does　off　a　single　bicycle；　hit　his　boot　against　the　backbone；　and　collapsed　heavily；　falling　on　his　shoulder。

She　stood　up。　〃Dear　me！〃　she　said。　〃I　hope　he　isn't　hurt。〃

The　second　rider　went　to　the　assistance　of　the　fallen　man。

Hoopdriver　stood　up；　too。　The　lank；　shaky　machine　was　lifted　up　and　wheeled　out　of　the　way；　and　then　the　fallen　rider；　being　assisted；　got　up　slowly　and　stood　rubbing　his　arm。　No　serious　injury　seemed　to　be　done　to　the　man；　and　the　couple　presently　turned　their　attention　to　the　machine　by　the　roadside。　They　were　not　in　cycling　clothes　Hoopdriver　observed。　One　wore　the　grotesque　raiment　for　which　the　Cockney　discovery　of　the　game　of　golf　seems　indirectly　blamable。　Even　at　this　distance　the　flopping　flatness　of　his　cap；　the　bright　brown　leather　at　the　top　of　his　calves；　and　the　chequering　of　his　stockings　were　perceptible。　The　other；　the　rear　rider；　was　a　slender　little　man　in　grey。

〃Amatoors；〃　said　Mr。　Hoopdriver。

Jessie　stood　staring；　and　a　veil　of　thought　dropped　over　her　eyes。　She　no　longer　regarded　the　two　men　who　were　now　tinkering　at　the　machine　down　below　there。

〃How　much　have　you？〃　she　said。

He　thrust　his　right　hand　into　his　pocket　and　produced　six　coins；　counted　them　with　his　left　index　finger；　and　held　them　out　to　her。　〃Thirteen　four　half；〃　said　Mr。　Hoopdriver。　〃Every　penny。〃

〃I　have　half　a　sovereign；〃　she　said。　〃Our　bill　wherever　we　stop〃　The　hiatus　was　more　eloquent　than　many　words。　

〃I　never　thought　of　money　coming　in　to　stop　us　like　this；〃　said　Jessie。

〃It's　a　juiced　nuisance。〃　

〃Money；〃　said　Jessie。　〃Is　it　possibleSurely！　Conventionality！　May　only　people　of　meansLive　their　own　Lives？　I　never　thought　。。。〃

Pause。

〃Here's　some　more　cyclists　coming；〃　said　Mr。　Hoopdriver。

The　two　men　were　both　busy　with　their　bicycle　still；　but　now　from　among　the　trees　emerged　the　massive　bulk　of　a　'Marlborough　Club'　tandem；　ridden　by　a　slender　woman　in　grey　and　a　burly　man　in　？　Norfolk　jacket。　Following　close　upon　this　came　lank　black　figure　in　a　piebald　straw　hat；　riding　a　tricycle　of　antiquated　pattern　with　two　large　wheels　in　front。　The　man　in　grey　remained　bowed　over　the　bicycle；　with　his　stomach　resting　on　the　saddle；　but　his　companion　stood　up　and　addressed　some　remark　to　the　tricycle　riders。　Then　it　seemed　as　if　he　pointed　up　hill　to　where　Mr。　Hoopdriver　and　his　companion　stood　side　by　side。　A　still　odder　thing　followed；　the　lady　in　grey　took　out　her　handkerchief；　appeared　to　wave　it　for　a　moment；　and　then　at　a　hasty　motion　from　her　companion　the　white　signal　vanished。

〃Surely；〃　said　Jessie；　peering　under　her　hand。　〃It's　never〃

The　tandem　tricycle　began　to　ascend　the　hill；　quartering　elaborately　from　side　to　side　to　ease　the　ascent。　It　was　evident；　from　his　heaving　shoulders　and　depressed　head；　that　the　burly　gentleman　was　exerting　himself。　The　clerical　person　on　the　tricycle　assumed　the　shape　of　a　note　of　interrogation。　Then　on　the　heels　of　this　procession　came　a　dogcart　driven　by　a　man　in　a　billycock　hat　and　containing　a　lady　in　dark　green。

〃Looks　like　some　sort　of　excursion；〃　said　Hoopdriver。

Jessie　did　not　answer。　She　was　still　peering　under　her　hand。　〃Surely；〃　she　said。

The　clergyman's　efforts　were　becoming　convulsive。　With　a　curious　jerking　motion；　the　tricycle　he　rode　twisted　round　upon　itself；　and　he　partly　dismounted　and　partly　fell　off。　He　turned　his　machine　up　hill　again　immediately　and　began　to　wheel　it。　Then　the　burly　gentleman　dismounted；　and　with　a　courtly　attentiveness　assisted　the　lady　in　grey　to　alight。　There　was　some　little　difference　of　opinion　as　to　assistance；　she　so　clearly　wished　to　help　push。　Finally　she　gave　in；　and　the　burly　gentleman　began　impelling　the　machine　up　hill　by　his　own　unaided　strength。　His　face　made　a　dot　of　brilliant　colour　among　the　greys　and　greens　at　the　foot　of　the　hill。　The　tandem　bicycle　was　now；　it　seems；　repaired；　and　this　joined　the　tail　of　the　procession；　its　riders　walking　behind　the　dogcart；　from　which　the　lady　in　green　and　the　driver　had　now　descended。　

〃Mr。　Hoopdriver；〃　said　Jessie。　〃Those　peopleI'm　almost　sure〃

〃Lord！〃　said　Mr。　Hoopdriver；　reading　the　rest　in　her　face；　and　he　turned　to　pick　up　his　machine　at　once。　Then　he　dropped　it　and　assisted　her　to　mount。

At　the　sight　of　Jessie　mounting　against　the　sky　line　the　people　coming　up　the　hill　suddenly　became　excited　and　ended　Jessie's　doubts　at　once。　Two　handkerchiefs　waved；　and　some　one　shouted。　The　riders　of　the　tandem　bicycle　began　to　run　it　up　hill；　past　the　other　vehicles。　But　our　young　people　did　not　wait　for　further　developments　of　the　pursuit。　In　another　moment　they　were　out　of　sight；　riding　hard　down　a　steady　incline　towards　Stoney　Cross。

Before　they　had　dropped　among　the　trees　out　of　sight　of　the　hill　brow；　Jessie　looked　back　and　saw　the　tandem　rising　over　the　crest；　with　its　rear　rider　just　tumbling　into　the　saddle。　〃They're　coming；〃　she　said；　and　bent　her　head　over　her　handles　in　true　professional　style。

They　whirled　down　into　the　valley；　over　a　white　bridge；　and　saw　ahead　of　them　a　number　of　shaggy　little　ponies　frisking　in　the　roadway。　Involuntarily　they　slackened。　〃Shoo！〃　said　Mr。　Hoopdriver；　and　the　ponies　kicked　up　their　heels　derisively。　At　that　Mr。　Hoopdriver　lost　his　temper　and　charged　at　them；　narrowly　missed　one；　and　sent　them　jumping　the　ditch　into　the　bracken　under　the　trees；　leaving　the　way　clear　for